MONROVIA – Matthew Nyanplu, once a vocal supporter of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai during the 2023 elections, has launched a new critique of the administration he had previously praised as Liberia’s best hope for reform. Nyanplu, who once hailed Boakai and the Unity Party as the alternative to rescue Liberia from corruption and mismanagement under the former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government, now says the current administration has failed to deliver meaningful progress nearly two years into its term.
In a post on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, Nyanplu accused President Boakai’s government of wasteful spending and an inability to produce tangible national results despite managing more than a billion dollars in public resources. Responding to the Cabinet Meeting held Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, he wrote: “After two years of swallowing up more than a billion dollars with nothing to show for it, Mr. Boakai’s cabinet decided they want to find ways to create jobs now. Funny! They plan to gulp up 931 million of the one billion budget just on running the government!” His remarks reflect deep disappointment toward an administration he once defended as the best alternative for Liberia’s future.
Nyanplu’s criticism has renewed national debate over the Boakai administration’s stewardship of the economy and its broader governance agenda. As economic pressures grow and unemployment remains stubbornly high, his remarks have resonated with many Liberians who say they see little improvement in day-to-day living conditions. Coming from a former supporter and prominent good-governance advocate, his comments carry added weight in ongoing discussions about the direction of the country.
The Executive Mansion, however, offered a contrasting narrative of the Cabinet’s session. In an official statement issued by The Cabinet Office and signed by Nathaniel T. Kwabo, Director General of the Cabinet, the administration said the meeting in Bomi County focused on three major priorities: job creation, the national response to drug abuse, and finalizing the FY 2025/26 national budget. The Mansion presented the gathering as a strategic policy session aimed at addressing key national challenges and advancing long-term development goals.
The statement highlighted that the Cabinet deliberated on the National Employment Acceleration Strategy, a framework intended to expand job opportunities by attracting investment, promoting public works, strengthening skills training, and supporting small enterprises. To ensure data-driven decision-making, the Cabinet agreed to formalize national labor data systems and conduct regular surveys to improve accuracy in reporting employment trends.
President Boakai directed several key institutions, including LISGIS, the National Investment Commission, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Labor, and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, to coordinate the implementation of the employment strategy. He also instructed them to provide quarterly performance reports to the Cabinet, a move the administration says will ensure transparency and accountability.
The Cabinet also reviewed the FY 2025/26 national budget, which officials heralded as the first in Liberian history to surpass US$1 billion. The Minister of Finance briefed Cabinet members on revenue streams, spending priorities, and allocations designed to support economic reform and national growth. Cabinet members reportedly endorsed the proposed budget and agreed to work in unison when presenting it to the Legislature for approval.
Despite the administration’s optimistic messaging, Nyanplu argued that the government has provided little evidence of meaningful progress to justify such large expenditures. He pointed to persistent economic hardship, limited job creation, and slow implementation of major infrastructure and development programs as signs that public resources are not being efficiently used. His criticism reflects growing frustration among Liberians who feel the government is spending more on bureaucracy than on improving lives.
The Executive Mansion appears to frame the Cabinet Meeting priorities as efforts to improve livelihoods, bolster national security, and steer Liberia toward long-term development, even as critics question whether public resources are being effectively utilized.
